Flannel Receiving Blankets

I’m starting to think that there is something in the water. Friends, left and right, are turning up pregnant. Thrilled with the good news, I’ve become a receivin’-blanket-makin’ machine. No sooner am I done with one, then I am on to the next. With each blanket I find myself guessing baby names, picturing my friends in the role of ‘Mom’ and imagining the nervous excitement of the dads-to-be.

I am so happy sitting with this super soft flannel draped in my lap, hypnotized by the rhythm of crochet and the feeling of merino wool as it winds through my fingers. The soft touch of these remarkable materials soothes me in the same way I know it will the new babes!

While it is a pleasure to make these Receiving Blankets, it is an even greater joy to think of them in use. The foggy, warm stripes of Ecrulet’s Flannel and the crisp, rich colors of Koigu’s merino combine in such pretty harmony, that I can’t wait to see my friends’ littles bundles all wrapped up inside!

Congrats to all those expecting! –Laura

PS: Check out Molly’s Lap Duvets for more ideas on how to use Ecrulet’s magnificent Flannel Stripes!

Pattern

Cut and Wind

Cut the fabric into a 42-inch by 42-inch square.

Wind the yarn into a ball. Place it to the side for now.

Pin and Sew

Fold and press each edge of the fabric 1/4-inch toward the wrong side. Fold and press each edge 1/4-inch toward the wrong side once more. Pin the folds in place and machine sew down with an edgestitch.

Crochet the Edge

Orient the fabric so the front is facing you and the stripes are vertical.

Begin approximately 1 inch from a corner. Insert hook just below the hemmed edge, into the middle of a stripe. Pull a loop through. Grab the yarn from the back and pull it through the loop you just made.

Insert hook back through the same hole, and make a single crochet along the edge of the fabric.

*Chain one.

Insert hook into the next stripe, and make a single crochet.

Insert hook back through the same hole, and make a single crochet

Insert hook through the same hole, for a third time. Make a single crochet.

Repeat from * until you reach the corner.

Turn the Corner

After you’ve made a cluster of single crochets right before the corner, chain 3 (rather than 1). For the next stitch (the first of the new side), insert the hook into the last hole you made, as pictured above.

Now that you have turned the corner, you no longer have stripes to guide your placement. You can mark the fabric every 1/4 to 5/8-inch using a Chaco Marker if you would like a guide or you can just eye-ball it.

Continue around the 2nd, 3rd and 4th edge of the blanket, turn the 4th corner and work up to the stripe where you first began.

Connect at the End

Chain one.

Insert hook into the first stripe, where you began, and make a single crochet.

Cut yarn and pull through. Using a tapestry needle, weave in your ends.

128 Responses to Flannel Receiving Blankets

I love this design but I am using fleece with a super bulky yarn. Any suggestions for this or do you have another pattern you would recommend? I am making this for a baby blanket and wanted the edging to be a little more fluffy……thus the bulky yarn. Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

Hi! This is lovely! It looks like the stripe print on the flannel is on both sides of the fabric – is that true? Where do I find similar flannel? Thanks for sharing such a great idea. I'm making one for my new baby niece who is due in August.

I love making these! And the babies seem to love them too. I'm on my third blanket and have plans for a fourth.

I, too, spent quite some time searching for a flannel stripe fabric (with Purl sold out). I finally found a nice flannel sheet in ticking stripe. A queen size yields 4 blankets. It's fun choosing just the right shade of Koigu for the recipient.

I have used crochet as an edging on other fabrics by hand sewing blanket stitch along the edge first and then crocheting into this. Particularly good on non fraying material such as fleece. Can make a very simple scarf with crocheted ends in no time at all. Thanks for all the great patterns.

They look lovely. You could also sew 2 layers of flannel rights sides together and round the corners off leaving a space for turning right side out before crocheting the edge. Would be extra warm for winter then.

I’m sorry, but I am having the hardest time with this project. I am new to crocheting and this tutorial just isn’t happening. I’ve also looked at the other tutorials on your site, but I can’t seem to get the hang of it because there is not enough detail. For example, in the first step, when you say “pull a loop through,” do you mean a slip knot? If so, what do you do with the tail at the end? How do I “insert the hook back through the same hole”? The same hole in the fabric? Or in the yarn?

You begin by puncturing the fabric with your crochet hook, pushing the needle through the fabric from the front to the back. You use the hook to grab the working yarn and you pull it through the hole in the punctured fabric. With your left hand, you tack down the tail of the yarn so it does not slip through the punctured fabric. At this point there is one loop of yarn on your crochet hook.

Then, grab the working yarn and pull it through the loop on your needle.

Then, insert your crochet hook back through the same hole in the punctured fabric and bring the working yarn through the hole. You now have two loops on your crochet hook. At this point make a single crochet along the edge of the fabric.(Here is a link to our Crochet Basics tutorial which includes a single crochet tutorial: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2007/04/12/crochet-basics/ )

Then you chain one. That chain one will be the beginning of the repeat.

Please let me know if this helps clarify things at all or if you have any questions!
Thanks,
Laura

I’ve looked through the step by step instructions and photos as well as these more written out directions, but I’ve still not been able to get the crochet. I’m a knitter and I don’t crochet, but I’ve looked at multiple crochet tutorials and I’m stuck. Im having issues when I need to insert the hook back through the same hole and pull the working yarn through the hole to have two loops. I can’t get the yarn through the hole and keep the loops on the hook.

So sorry for the late response! Fortunately, it sounds like you are doing the crochet correctly. Make sure you are working with the right hook size though. It sounds like your troubles can be alleviated by having a little more control with the hook. This technique might take some practice, but with all needle crafts it just takes some practice!

Hi,
These are beautiful. I am trying with a different flannel as this is sold out. I am afraid that the fabric will fray around the holes. Is there anything I can do to keep the fabric fibers from getting pulled at the site of the hole? Thank you.

That shouldn’t really be an issue since you aren’t cutting a hole, you are pushing the crochet needle through the weave of the fabric. Laura has made many of these blankets over the years and fraying around the holes hasn’t been an issue.

Would this edging be suitable as a base stitch for adding a more decorative scalloped edge onto? This looks prettier to me than the regular blanket stitch normally sewn on with a yarn needle. Very lovely blankets!

We don’t have any experience doing a scalloped edge but from what I understand of it I think this should be fine. Thanks so much for getting in touch and please let us know if you have any more questions!

I love this project and would like to create one, instructions seem very easy. I have several crochet hooks I have inherited and none of them are size “A”. I’ve looked up conversion charts, but no success finding what number size is compatible to size “A”. Can you help me out with this dilemma?

Hi Nancy.
Great question. A US size A crochet hook is usually around 1.75mm to 2.00mm. A US size B is 2.25mm, often times, anything smaller than a B is only measured in mm, rather than given a letter size. For this project I recommend using as small a hook as you can so to minimize the punture holes in the flannel. Hope this helps!
Laura

Thank you for your question. How lovely to have your mothers old hooks! You might like to look at the crochet hook size chart on the craft yarn councils website here: http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/hooks.html. They have letters and numbers for each size. I hope that helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.

I would like to crochet an edge on a baby boy blanket. I would be using Jersey knit instead on flannel. Has anyone ever attempted this? Does it work? What about using stretchy yarn? This will be my first project with crocheting.

We wouldn’t recommend using jersey because the edge would get pulled out of shape very easily. I think you would have the same issue using a yarn with stretch in it. The good news is that it will work with almost any mid weight woven fabric and any non-stretchy yarn. Please let us know if you have any more questions and I apologize for the delay in getting back to you!

Thank you for this great tutorial! I have a new grandson on the way next month and have recently taken up sewing. I LOVE the look of the edging and would like to add it to the blankets I’ve already hemmed but I can only afford the soft, inexpensive flannel from the big box stores (with a coupon) ;). Am I likely to have fraying issues after multiple washes wherever I’ve made a hole for yarn? Worried that maybe I should quit while I’m ahead but these are so irresistible!

Hi Tammy.
Thanks for writing in!
That’s a great question. Do not worry about fraying. Between my grandmother and mom and aunts and me… we’ve made these blankets in loads of different flannels and fraying has never been an issue.
Enjoy the pattern.
Laura

This is such a great project! I am wondering if you know what might happen if I use yarn that is not labeled as machine washable on this. I plan to use flannel fabric and just realized the yarn may not work. Will it shrink and make the fabric lay wonky if washed? Thanks for your help!

Hi Tamarah.
Thanks for writing in.
If the yarn isn’t machine washable and it goes into the machine and the drier… the yarn may felt and cause the edges of the blanket to cinch up.
Hope this helps.
Laura

Hi Ingrid.
I used the smallest crochet hook that works with the edging yarn and simply guided it through the fabric with a little pressure. May I ask, are you using 100% cotton flannel? If it’s a synthetic blend, the fabric may not take so kindly to being punctured.
Thanks for writing in.
Hope this helps.
Laura

I have an answer for Jessie B. Since there aren’t too many babies left in the family, I used the stitch to edge matching flannel gowns and pajamas for little girls ranging from two to twelve. The prints were red and white Christmas prints and I used red, white and green washable thread and a small needle. After going around (the necklines and cuffs) once, I added a scalloped or picot edge. They looked so cute!

I have used the stitch on bags and other projects. I have even used it on fine batiste fabric. As you said, the trick is to use the smallest hook you need and “push” the hook between threads. If you don’t break the threads, there is nothing to fray! My Mom (now deceased) used to crochet edges on everything but used a plain stitch that looked more like a sewn blanket stitch. I like this one better. Thanks for sharing!

Is this Merino yarn machine washable? I’m getting ready to do receiving blankets for a gift out of quilt shop-quality flannel, but I want a washable yarn. I love this simple but classic way to finish edges.

Hi Elisa.
Thanks for writing in.
This pattern only calls for one fabric. For hemming the edges…after folding the edges of the fabric 1/4-inch toward the wrong side and then folding and press each edge 1/4-inch toward the wrong side once more. Pin the folds in place and machine sew down with an edgestitch.
I do hope this helps!
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Laura

Hi,
I don’t sew and will need to either track down a machine or sew the flannel edge by hand…is this doable, do you think?

Also, I’m thinking of using Robert Kaufman Mammoth flannel in smoke. Would this work and what color should I use for the edging? This will be for a little boy who is due any day so I’ll need to get busy!

Thank you for your message and our apologies for the greatly delayed response! You can certainly stitch the edges down be hand. I would be sure to use a neat, small stitch. You may want to try a slip stitch or a ladder stitch.

Robert Kaufman Mammoth flannel in smoke would look lovely with a red, blue or dark gray edging!

I have been making flannel blankets with this crochet edging for 40 years. I start with 3 yards of flannel and fold it in half crosswise. It makes a nice size to cover infant and adult while the infant is feeding.

I haven’t worked with flannel enough to know if you wash it before you begin the project. Although I’ve made lots of baby blankets out of fleece and I know how to crochet, right now I’m into quilting and I always wash my fabrics beforehand.

It looks like a great baby blanket project and before I start, I want to make sure I fully understand how to begin.

Thank you for writing in! You are correct, you’ll want to wash the flannel before working with it. Just as in quilting washing the fabric before hand will keep it from pulling your stitches when you launder the blanket. If you have further questions, please let us know!

Thanks for writing in! There is no need to wash the yarn before hand. Especially given that you are using a superwash wool, there should be no real issues with shrinking so long as you follow the washing instructions for the yarn when your blanket is completed!

I love the look of these flannel blankets! I’ve been wanting one for my new baby boy, but I just don’t seem to have time to make one with all the kids! I will definitely just have to buy one, but I will definitely be getting a flannel one just like these. Every baby deserves a beautiful and cozy blanket.

These are just gorgeous! I’m planning to make one using the Robert Kaufman Tahoe Flannel in Grey and was wondering if you had any recommendations on a border color? Nothing seems to “click” with the Koigu. Do you think Purl Soho’s Line Weight in Peony Pink would work as a replacement since it’s also fingering weight? Thanks for the recommendations!

Thanks for writing in and for the kind words! Our Line Weight is a hand wash only yarn. It is also a single ply and may not be as robust as might benefit this project. For a washable alternative, I would suggest checking out Anzula Squishy!

Thanks for writing in! We did not pre-punch the holes when crocheting the edge. The size of the crochet hook combined with the type of fabric lend themselves to being punched as you work using the tip of the crochet hook!

Congratulations on the new niece or nephew! The 1/4-5/8 inch spacing is when we used in the samples! If you like, you can measure the distance between the crochets on the side with the lines and then mimic it on the other side. This is essentially what we did here!

The women in my church make these blankets in flannel and fleece for charity. We use skip cut rotary cutters to quickly cut holes in the fabric edges; this is a must for fleece as you cannot punch a crochet hook through the fabric. These cutters are available at JoAnn, Hobby Lobby and Amazon, and other sewing sites on online. If you use one, you need a self-healing mat (use those JoAnn coupons!).

Thanks for this pattern! I am brand new to crocheting, and am confused on one part – after you chain one, and start a new hole, how does that chained stitch get off the needle? I am restarting the pattern at the new hole and have a stitch stuck back on the needle…

Thanks for writing in! Whenever you are crocheting, you will always have at least one loop on your hook, which will be used to form part of the next stitch. After you work the chain one between clusters, you are correct that you will still have a loop on your hook. You will then insert your hook into the next stripe and pull up a loop so that you have two loops on your hook, yarn over and pull the new loop through both the loops on the hook. The only time you will not have at least one loop on your hook is when you are completely finished and fasten your work off!

Hi , I did this edging on an alpaca blanket for a new little one. I also slightly felted the edge instead if stitching . Was very happy with the result. Luv your work, so different , truly works of art, I am yet to use your pattern for your mushrooms. I am working on my Christmas talismans.
Thanks again for sharing your talents
Lesley

If you were crocheting this edging on just one side of, say a burp cloth, how would you start it, so that it looks consistent instead of going all the way around the blanket. The first cluster doesn’t match the rest of the clusters.
Thanks

Great question! Although the first cluster doesn’t look quite the same as the rest, I do think that is how I would start and end if I was only doing a single line of this edging – it is essentially a half cluster, which will stay flush with the side of the fabric nicely.

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